Michael Buble: Call Me Irresponsible

Elly Roberts reviews

Michael Buble: Call Me Irresponsible
Distributed by
Reprise Records

    Cover

  • April 2007
  • Rating: 8/10

On his third and latest album,Canadian Michael Buble spans the decades, from 1988 to 1944,adding two of his own most recent songs.

Despite having already amassed 12 million sales to date, Buble, in myopinion, wasn’t cutting the mustard in this market. He is finally gettingbetter, though I still question his live performances.

Sometimes, it’s hard shaking-off Harry Connick Jr’s immense talents asshowman, arranger and composer. Having seen him live at Manchester Apolloin 1992, Buble was always going to be up against it. Nevertheless, this isa broadly appealing album, and far better than previous It’s Time,however, it’s still not challenging enough for my personal taste, renderingit to be yet another coffee table – the mum’s have it – niche.

Maybe, I’m being churlish, but I know what I like and what I hear in thistype of music, and it still leaves me wanting, probably due to hislightweight crooning style.


To his credit, his choice of songs is very good, by composers by LeonardCohen, Eric Clapton, Huff-Gamble-Gilbert, and he handles them well enough.

Adopting a Sinatra (his hero) style intro, its smoothness personified, andmaybe, just maybe, there really is more to this song, as he stresses – TheBest Is Yet To Come, which I believe, there is.

Going all Latino, Mancini’s It Had Better Be Tonight is shimmeringwith full-blooded intent, whereas Billy Paul’s hit is given the silkytreatment, backed by neat vocals from Emily Blunt.

Cohen did I’m Your Man in a Jazz style, so Buble keeps with it, and doesit justice with appropriate gusto when called for, though the vocalscouldn’t be more polarised. Boyz11men add some sparkling backups on apacey cover of Dorough-Tucker’s 1962 gem.


Back to swing, the title track offers nothing new, though Clapton’sWonderful Tonight has all the trademarks of a gentle Bond feel asthe strings sway away. Willie Nelson’s Always On My Mind, andstandard That’s Life don’t work due to their blandness.

As for his own songs – Lost and Everything, both fit hiscrooning perfectly.

Weblinks:michaelbuble.com /bungalow-b.com /repriserecords.com


The full list of tracks included are :

1. The Best Is Yet To Come [1964]
2. It Had better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera) [1963]
3. Me And Mrs. Jones [1972]
4. I’m Your Man [1988]
5. Comin’ Home Baby (duet with Boyz II Men) [1962]
6. Lost [2007]
7. Call Me Irresponsible [1963]
8. Wonderful Tonight (duet with Ivan Lins) [1977]
9. Everything [2007]
10. I’ve Got The world On A String [1932]
11. Always On My Mind [1971]
12. That’s Life [1964]
13. Dream [1944]

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